New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-04
THO KINDS OF DEBT

The Nation owes debt Of gratitude and
of loyal affection as well as debt of money.
The Administration claims credit for paying
the Nations debts with rapidity. Yet the fact
is that it is repudiating part of them. and
tho most sacred part.
President Cleveland's Administration has re-
duced the public debt. less cash in the Treas
ury, nearly $40, 100000 during the last fiscal
year. For that Let it have credit. Ia has not
caused the vast increase in revenue. amount
ing to almost 1856, 100000. but it has not
stolen the money. Receipts under laws which
the President and his party have vainly tried
to alter have enormously exceeded expendi-
lures; the Administration has Obeyed law In
keeping and applying the money. For so much
let 1t have all the praise that Is deserved.
The Nation owes a more sacred debt than
that. In the dark days when rebellion threat
ened, and the fate Of the peoples Government
trembled in the balance, individuals gave or
risked their lives to save the Nation. Among
them loyal woman of Richmond faithfully
served the Flag and the cause Of the Nation
by sending prompt information of military
value to Washington. General Grant publicly
declared that her services were great. 10
appreciate them we have only to go back to
those critical times, and to consider what the
Union commander, what any loyal citizen.
would have thought information worth that
turned the scale of war, saved the Union and
spared thousands of precious lives. Wha'
debt could be more sacred ? No honest and
loyal citizen would have thought the daily risk
of life in Richmond overpaid by pension
and high honor for life, with the chershins
care of great Nation.
Our laws make no provision for such re-
ward. But President Grant appointed Miss
Van Lew to an Office in which she was honored
for past services ard allowed to earn com
Portable salary by doing a mans full work. A
later Administration transferred her to post
less conspicuous, where she would be less
likely to excite rebel vindictiveness, and where,
though no longer especially honored by the
Nation she was still permitted to earn com
Portable salary by arduous and faithful work
President Cleveland's Administration now re-
pudiatcs the debt The Nations anniversary
holiday is chosen as fitting occasion for re
ducing the mcagre salary paid Miss Van Lew
for her services Priceless services in the past
with daily peril of life for years. not only count
for nothing with this Government but cause
ner TO De ueprlNeu vi paw vi ehc S"i"aJ ""'N'
she honestly earns.
Nobody is surprised at this. The same
President who ordered the surrender OF rebel
flags captured by Union armies. and whose
letter shows that he would have completed the
surrender had the Law not forbidden it, might
be expected to show vindictiveness instead OF
gratitude 10 q woman who had done more than
most men to save the Union. The same
President who vetoed the bill to pension de-
pendent and helpless Union veterans, the
same President who accompanied vetoes OF
scores Of pension bills with sneers and insults
at the men who had suffered that that the Ma
ton might i've may well have been expected
to deprive woman of part of her pay for
honest and loyal service. But the simple fact
that nobody is surprised and that even she
Presidents more clinging and servile follow
ers will not think his action In need OF any
defence, shows what the Government has come
70 be under Mr. Cleveland. Single straws mark
the direction of the current. The Reputation
of the Nations sacred Indebtedness to one help
less woman shows what loyalty has come 70
mean at the White House on the Fourth Of
Inlv 1897